Senior Lifestyles
Special pages of The Addison Independent October 24, 2016
PAGE 2 — Senior Lifestyles • Addison Independent, Monday, October 24, 2016
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Senior Lifestyles • Addison Independent, Monday, October 24, 2016 — PAGE 3
What does it feel like to be a person with dementia? Simulation enlightens caregivers of seniors By CHRISTY LYNN MIDDLEBURY — You know those moments when you’re interacting with another person and they respond in a way that totally shocks or surprises you. “What were they thinking when they did that?” you say to yourself. Have you ever wondered what “Until it’s actually it would be like to step into their happening to shoes in that you, it’s hard to moment, to catch really understand a glimpse of what could be so what might have motivated their overwhelming action or emotion? and hard.” Well, the — Courtney Allenson, Residence at Otter resident engagement Creek is offering opportunity director an for people to experience a sliver of what it may feel like to have dementia. Through a simulation routine led by Resident Engagement Director Courtney Allenson, in about five minutes a family member, caretaker, or friend can gain valuable insight into the many obstacles a person struggling with dementia may face. This awareness helps that person’s surrounding community act with compassion and patience, rather than frustration and haste. My husband’s late grandmother suffered from dementia and for several years before her death we watched as she slowly lost memories, lost (See Dementia, Page 5)
WEARING GLASSES WITH the lenses painted to simulate vision deficits, large gloves that cause dexterity and feeling problems and headphones playing voices to mimic hearing difficulties, Christy Lynn was ready for a dementia simulation. The exercise was eye opening. Independent photo/Trent Campbell
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PAGE 4 — Senior Lifestyles • Addison Independent, Monday, October 24, 2016
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Senior Lifestyles • Addison Independent, Monday, October 24, 2016 — PAGE 5
Dementia (Continued from Page 3) her place when recounting stories, lost track of time, lost motivation and eventually lost the will to carry on. It was a devastating condition to witness and though the family tried to treat Gram with love through the end it was confusing and frustrating nonetheless. So naturally, when the opportunity arose to experience the dementia simulation, I jumped at it. Allenson was waiting for me in an empty room at the Residence at Otter Creek’s Middlebury facility with several chairs and a table with a bunch of props on it. Julie Fuller, a staff LNP who specializes in dementia care, was there too, observing the experience for the first time and curious how someone in my position would respond. I sat in one of the chairs and listened as Allenson explained the routine. First, she handed me a small rubber rectangle that was flat on one side and had spikes sticking out of the other side. I was to place it inside my shoe — spike side facing my foot. This spikey insole was meant to distract in a similar manner as everyday foot pain, neuropathy or arthritis often does for elderly people. Ouch. Next, I was given a pair of large cotton gloves. According to a handout Allenson gives at each of these simulations, arthritis is part of daily life for up to 80 percent of the population over the age of 65. Dexterity is often compromised, as is feeling and function. Then came the glasses. As someone who has never had trouble seeing (or even been to the eye doctor) putting on a pair of oversized glasses painted on the inside with dark purple nail polish almost made me instantly panic. I strained to see
COURTNEY ALLENSON, RESIDENT engagement director at the Residence at Otter Creek retirement community, explains how people with dementia can’t absorb all the information thrown at them, so caregivers need to choose their words carefully and act with extra forethought. Independent photo/Trent Campbell
anything through the brush strokes in the paint and realized I could only make out rough shapes rather than defined objects. But again Allenson’s handout said 75 percent of people over 65 have a visual impairment of some kind.
To top it off, Allenson told me she had a recording of voices talking that she would be playing through headphones I would wear through the rest of the simulation. She would put the headphones on and then we would begin.
Before she hit play she handed me a mediumsize tote bag and told me this was my hoarding bag and that for the rest of the demonstration she would refer to me as Mrs. Smith. People (See Simulation, Page 6)
This dedicated wonderful group of professionals continues to provide the residents of the Addison County community with quality health care at home. (802) 388-7259 www.achhh.org toll free (800) 639-1521 PO Box 754, Route 7 North, Middlebury, VT 05753
PAGE 6 — Senior Lifestyles • Addison Independent, Monday, October 24, 2016
Simulation (Continued from Page 5) Gee, Mrs. Smith, I need you to hurry up and find suffering from dementia have a tendency to those keys...” collect items that they feel they might need And on it went! Meanwhile I was fumbling again and hoard them for the future. Only they around in the hoarding bag, frustrated by the can’t remember exactly what they were and scattered deck of cards but unable to locate the lack the organization to keep keys (if they were even in them straight. there) or the queen of hearts. Allenson hit play on the I did manage to find the recording and suddenly it string and tied it in a knot, sounded like I was in the but caught the end of one middle of a large and loud of the oversized gloves and crowd. But before I could suddenly had my finger tied settle into that she started into the knot, which did not yelling at me: help matters. My foot was “Mrs. Smith, hi, how are starting to tingle with the you? How are you today, spikey insole in it and I was Mrs. Smith? Are you ready starting to feel dizzy from to go? Let’s go, stand up, the concentration it took to Mrs. Smith, and let’s go ignore the voices in my ears over here. On our way, Mrs. and obstructed view while Smith, can you find your trying to listen as hard as keys in that purse of yours? I could to the directions. I Oh, and while you’re at it admit that I stopped moving there’s a deck of cards in at one point and after I found there and I need the queen the string I gave up on the JULIE FULLER of hearts. Find the queen of queen of hearts or the car hearts I really need that. keys. Focus on one thing and “Please hurry and find you keys, Mrs. Smith. get it done, I told myself, then move on. Oh, Mrs. Smith, I’ll also need you to find the Bingo. yellow string in there and tie it in a knot. A nice Simulation, success. tight knot, please, Mrs. Smith. Make sure it’s Within about a minute I had developed one of a good knot that’s tight. Have you found your the most common coping strategies that people keys yet, Mrs. Smith? Come on, we’re getting with dementia turn to and had made a choice late. Can you walk any faster, Mrs. Smith, we’re about what tasks I was not going to be able to going to be late. Where is the queen of hearts, complete and which I could focus on. It was Mrs. Smith? I thought I asked you to find the frustrating and annoying and for me, of course, queen of hearts! Mrs. Smith, your keys! Have what I wanted to do was tear off the glasses, or you not yet found your keys in that purse yet. (See Conentration, Page 7)
Senior Lifestyles • Addison Independent, Monday, October 24, 2016 — PAGE 7
Concentration (Continued from Page 6) touch to help reinforce a message, rather than the gloves or the headphones, pull the annoying repeating words over and over. spikes out of my shoe and go through that The Residence offers the dementia simulation scattered bag and add a little order! to the public on the third Thursday of every But I knew that for me it was just a minute. month during arranged events. Participants For me they were just gloves, just are set up with the kit and glasses and just headphones that walk through the routine with could (and would) come off and “It absolutely Allenson or someone else from leave me functional again. the Residence staff just as I was. changes the For a person with dementia, it’s Family members, caretakers, experiences not so easy. friends, colleagues or peers can “Until it’s actually happening to people have with participate and Allenson says just you, it’s hard to really understand others and helps about anyone could benefit from what could be so overwhelming the exposure. and hard,” said Allenson. “The us understand The exercise is also part of simulation is a powerful tool what they’re a greater training program for for helping people understand going through.” dementia offered to nurses and the situation. As a caregiver, it other caretakers through the — LPN Julie Fuller Residence at Otter Creek. really helps you pare down and think about what needs to be Most of the programs were communicated.” developed by Joshua Freitas, Reflections and Fuller agrees and says the simulations have Engagement manager with LCB, the company helped change the community around the that owns and manages the Residence at Residence for the better. Otter Creek. Freitas is considered an expert “It absolutely changes the experiences people on dementia care and is the author of “The have with others and helps us understand what Dementia Concept,” a manual for how to they’re going through,” she said. improve the lives of those living with dementia. The caregivers gain a better understanding With LCB, Freitas travels to the company’s of what residents who have dementia might be various locations and trains people like Allenson capable of absorbing and responding to at any who can continue the programs he builds within given time. Allenson says dementia patients the individual residences. really only absorb one in about four words and it’s The goal, of course, is to educate people like generally the first and last words of the sentence. me — who maybe haven’t paused to really She says knowledge like that, in addition to this consider the many compounding challenges simulation, helps caregivers choose their words that someone with dementia would be facing — carefully and act more slowly with dementia about how to extend an extra bit of compassion patients. They reinforce a more simple message and love and sympathy to other people living with other forms of communication like gentle different realities.
How to help isolated seniors (MS) — The elderly population is on the rise in many countries. Advancements in healthcare and a growing emphasis on healthy lifestyles means people are living longer than ever before. Age is often accompanied by wisdom, but men and women may also find that feelings of isolation, loneliness and depression may also settle in as they grow older. The Journal of Primary Prevention published “A Review of Social Isolation,” which observed how social isolation has been linked to numerous detrimental health effects in older adults. Some of these ailments may include increased risk for mortality, rehospitalization, falls, and dementia. Individuals looking to give back to their communities may want to consider helping seniors in their area. Although it can be difficult to see seniors with diminished physical or mental capabilities, the rewards of interacting and helping seniors can be immeasurable. There are plenty of ways to help seniors avoid isolation and continue to live fulfilling lives. • Provide transportation. A Place for Mom, a senior housing placement resource, notes that lack of adequate transportation is a main cause of social isolation among seniors. Voluntary or necessary cessation of driving makes getting to and from appointments or even recreational outings more difficult. Where public transportation is unavailable or challenging to come by, volunteers can help shuttle seniors to and from grocery stores, doctor’s offices and any other places they need to go. Getting out regularly and seeing new faces can help seniors overcome feelings of loneliness. • Participate in hobbies together. Give
seniors a sense of purpose by encouraging them to participate in hobbies or activities. Book clubs are one activity that can interest people of different age groups. • Encourage exercise. Physical exercise keeps the body fit and improves mental health. Seniors can benefit from physical activity because it promotes strong bones and a healthy cardiovascular system. In addition, seniors who enroll in exercise classes at gyms or local senior centers can meet like-minded adults, helping them overcome their feelings of isolation even further. • Provide meals and companionship. Older adults may not be getting all they need to maintain healthy weights and bodily functions. Cooking and shopping for healthy foods may be difficult. Provide seniors with healthy meals when possible, and take the time to share those meals. This can foster conversations that keep seniors’ minds sharp and also may help prevent social isolation. Seniors can benefit from many different forms of support, and helping older adults is a worthy volunteer initiative.
PAGE 8 — Senior Lifestyles • Addison Independent, Monday, October 24, 2016
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